Stockholmsklubben, which left the SHL in 2014, has recruited 15 new players for this season.
In addition, there are two young NHL loans, talented former Brynäsbacken Victor Söderström and Swedish-American Oliver Wahlström, who played JVM for the USA the last two years.
Several of the new AIK players, such as the duo Fredric Weigel and Anton Holm, are returnees.
They each scored assist points in the premiere and accounted for a total of 79 points two seasons ago when AIK won the series by far, but stood on their ears in the qualifiers.
That time, AIK fell, among other things, against Oskarshamn, who took the step up in the SHL, and then was trained by Håkan Åhlund.
Hotter Västervik
He is now in AIK's booth and obviously has a pretty big job to do.
Lilla Västervik, eight last year and with 18 new players, was hotter and more aggressive at Hovet.
Former AIK player Joakim Hagelin led 1-0 after 5.43.
AIK did not lack chances.
The team had to play five against three in 1.23 in the middle of the first period, but without results.
The same thing at the beginning of the second when Weigel had a free kick from half a field without being able to outsmart the big-playing Västervik goalkeeper Daniel Marmenlind.
Inexperienced goalkeeper
Victor Öhman made it 2-0 after AIK carelessness, the home team reduced in powerplay through Oscar Nord (assist from Holm), but Marcus Westfält made it 3-1 behind AIK goalkeeper Edvin Olofsson, before the second period was over.
AIK has two inexperienced goalkeepers, both taken from division 1. Olofsson saw another puck fall past him in the third period when Tim Wahlgren made it 4-1.
Oliver Wahlström reduced in the closing seconds on a pass from Weigel.
Västervik also has two NHL loans, both previously in Djurgården.
Hill Andreas Englund was missing due to injury, while the mercury Axel Jonsson-Fjällby stood out on a few occasions.